Man chopped in dispute over pipe

A St James man who allegedly chopped another man during a dispute over a water pipe connection was ordered on Wednesday to attend mediation sessions with the complainant.

Desmond Cameron, of a Flanker address in St James, is charged with unlawful wounding. The allegations are that on January 20, the complainant was at home when he observed that there was no water in the pipe. When he made inquiries of his landlord, he was told that Cameron had disconnected the pipe. The complainant reconnected the pipe and went to work, but when he returned, he was told that Cameron had cut off the pipe again. When the complainant went to reconnect the pipe, Cameron confronted him and attacked him with a machete, wounding his finger in the process.

During Wednesday's court sitting, the complainant told presiding Parish Judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce that Cameron is a troublemaker.

"Your Honour, he has been a nuisance in the community. I have lived there for five years now, and he has been like that," the complainant said. Grant-Pryce suggested mediation which the complainant initially refused, seeking compensation for his injury. Grant-Pryce persisted, and subsequently made a mediation order for both parties to resolve their differences. Cameron's bail was extended to March 28.